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Reviewed by Robert Murray I’ll admit, I’ve never been a big fan of the vampire comic genre, especially the material released in the last ten years or so. Sorry, Buffy faithful! True, I really dug the Essential Tomb of Dracula collection my wife bought me for Christmas last year, but most modern vampire tales play up the romance angle like some fan letter from a teen heartthrob magazine. Vampire Knight is no exception (Shojo Beat, Tiger Beat... Same difference.). Obviously, this is a title aimed at a predominantly young female audience, which is probably why an old fart like me would find this title off-putting. However, since I wear the hat of the supposedly impartial reviewer, I have to look at Vampire Knight with an objective eye. Alas, Matsuri Hino does have some attractive elements in this tankoubon that will surely bring young manga readers back for more. But, those looking for a certain sophistication in characterization and story will not find much to savor about Vampire Knight, as many tired cliches are jammed together into one lackluster volume. Matsuri Hino usually creates manga tales that are happy and bubbly, titles such as Merupuri, which concerns a high school girl looking for the perfect husband. Well, even though the tone of Vampire Knight is supposed to be more serious, many of the same themes persist, as Yuki agonizes over her possible love for Kuran, a pureblood vampire with an apparent heart of gold. As one of the two members of the Cross Academy’s disciplinary committee, which acts as a police presence between the human students and the vampire class, she knows the dangers that vampires present to humans. But, Yuki feels in her heart that Kuran is different, and she has a semblance of proof: an incident early in her life when Kuran saved her from certain death at the hands of a bloodthirsty vampire. Since that time, Kuran is never far from her heart and mind, even though his vampiric nature causes her much consternation, as well as the fact that she can’t remember anything prior to the momentous vampire attack. Add to this the character of Zero, who is her disciplinary partner-in-crime with a healthy hatred toward vampires due to his own past experiences (and a particular chip on his shoulder toward Kuran), and you have the makings of a typical teen love triangle with little spurts of blood thrown in. Yeah, Hino is definitely drawing from the massive well of school romance tales that are a dime a dozen on manga book shelves throughout the world, which is why many shojo readers will feel comfortable with this title and the subject matter within, even if it is a trifle macabre. However, the shocking moments of this volume don’t pack the kind of wallop necessary to keep readers like myself around for more. Zero’s secret didn’t shock me at all because of Hino’s banal telegraphing throughout the first two chapters. The only element I pondered was why Yuki has such an important responsibility, yet she can’t seem to hold her on against any vampire (or any human, for that matter). Since her past is clouded in mystery, I assume that her usefulness will be revealed as the story progresses. As long as she doesn’t sprout fangs... Hino’s artwork is very beautiful to look at, but, like the story it is illuminating, it lacks any kind of aesthetic punch. It’s beautiful vampires interacting with cute school girls and not much else. Even the big twist of the volume looked very typical of vampire moments I have seen in other comics or movies. Gee, I haven’t seen blood splattering the panels in, I don’t know, at least two months or so! Yes, we are talking about a well-worn genre, so there is bound to be some major visual influences regarding any work about vampires. However, when you have 200 pages of material with no single image that you can latch onto as an arresting creation, then you know that this is a work relying solely on popular appeal rather than artistic excellence. This doesn’t upset me as much as it may seem: Vampire Knight is an entertaining way to spend an hour of free time (and it sure beats most of the crap on prime-time TV these days!). But, when you review comics and manga in your spare time, you get a fine overview of the good, the bad, and the mediocre. Unfortunately, Vampire Knight fits in this last category. If you don’t believe me, pick up an issue of Shojo Beat, which is currently serializing the story. It’s a cheaper commitment than plunking down 9 bucks for Volume One. Interested in writing for MangaLife? We're always looking for talented reviewers and columnists, so drop us a line! Charles Webb Editor-in-Chief, MangaLife.com |
24 September 2010
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